It is preached in the Lotus Sūtra that anyone who hates a practicer of the Lotus Sūtra is certain to fall into the Avīci Hell without fail. The fourth fascicle of the sūtra (“Teacher of the Dharma” chapter) preaches, “The sin of abusing a practicer of the Lotus Sūtra in the Latter Age of Degeneration is more serious than if one abused the Buddha for as long as a medium kalpa (aeon).” The seventh fascicle (“Never Despising Bodhisattva” chapter) declares, “Those who despise a practicer of the Lotus Sūtra will wallow in the Hell of Incessant Suffering for 1,000 kalpa (aeons).” The fifth fascicle (“Encouragement for Keeping This Sūtra” chapter) preaches, “During the Latter Age of Degeneration after my passing a practicer of the Lotus Sūtra will appear. Then in the country a great number of priests, observers, and violators of the Buddhist precepts will gather together to bring false charges against the practicer and advise the king to exile or behead the practicer.” Each of these scriptural statements match me perfectly. Therefore, I am certain that I am a practicer of the Lotus Sūtra and you, who help me, will inevitably attain Buddhahood in the future.

Matsuno-dono Gohenji, Response to Lord Matsuno, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Volume 7, Followers II, Page 70